Methods and apparatus for syringe adapter

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for a syringe adapter. In one embodiment, an adapter/cap assembly is threadably engaged to a syringe for enteral feeding applications. The adapter cannot be removed from the syringe to prevent the syringe from being used for IV applications.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/745,672 filed on May 8, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

As is known in the art, a variety of syringes are used for medical applications. For example, an enteral syringe can be filled with nutritional material that can be ingested by, a patient via a feeding tube, Another type of syringe having a threaded end to engage with a complementary end is used to provide solution intravenously. It is further known that an IV (intravenous) syringe can be filled with a substance, such as breast milk for an infant, and then misused as an IV syringe. This can lead to disastrous results including death due to substances being injected directly into a patient's vein.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides methods and apparatus to adapt a syringe for enteral applications where the adapted syringe cannot be used for IV applications after being adapted. In exemplary embodiments, an assembly includes an adapter and a cap, where the cap is used to rotate the adapter onto threads of the syringe for permanent engagement to the syringe to enable enteral feeding applications of the syringe. Rotation of the cap in the opposite direction removes the cap from the adapter to allow fluid egress from the syringe.

In one aspect of the invention, an assembly comprises an adapter having a first end and a second end and a cap engagement mechanism, the first end having a mating mechanism to engage a syringe, and a cap having an adapter engagement mechanism to engage the cap engagement mechanism of the adapter, wherein the adapter mating mechanism is configured to engage the syringe by rotation of the adapter in a first direction and to resist rotation of the adapter in a second direction opposite the first direction.

The assembly can further include one or more of the following features: the cap engagement mechanism and the adapter engagement mechanism are configured to rotate the adapter in the first direction by rotation of the cap in the first direction, rotation of the cap in the second direction disengages the cap from the adapter, the cap and adapter form a seal that is broken by rotation of the cap in the second direction, the first end includes a tip configured for enteral feeding, the cap engagement mechanism includes at least one tooth, the adapter engagement mechanism includes at least one tooth to engage the at least one tooth of the cap engagement mechanism, the mating mechanism includes one or more barbs to provide unidirectional rotation of the adapter when engaging the syringe, and the one or more barb extends from at least a partial thread.

In another aspect of the invention, a device comprises an adapter having a first end and a second end, the first end having a mating mechanism to engage a syringe, and wherein the adapter mating mechanism is configured to engage the syringe by rotation of the adapter in a first direction and to resist rotation of the adapter in a second direction opposite the first direction.

In a further aspect of the invention, a method comprises providing an adapter having a first end and a second end and a cap engagement mechanism, the first end having a mating mechanism to engage a syringe, and providing a cap having an adapter engagement mechanism to engage the cap engagement mechanism of the adapter, wherein the adapter mating mechanism is configured to engage the syringe by rotation of the adapter in a first direction and to resist rotation of the adapter in a second direction opposite the first direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic depiction of a syringe adapter in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic depiction of a syringe adapter cap in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic depiction of a syringe adapter/cap assembly in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a syringe cap/adapter assembly in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a side view of a syringe cap/adapter assembly in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3C is a partial cutaway view of a cap for a syringe adapter in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3D is a perspective partial cutaway view of a cap for a syringe adapter in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of a prior art syringe to which a syringe adapter can be attached in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing an exemplary sequence of steps for a syringe adapter in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a syringe adapter 100 and FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cap 200 that is matable with the syringe adapter 100. The adapter/cap assembly 300 of FIG. 3 can be coupled to a syringe 10, shown in FIG. 4, to safely adapt the syringe for enteral feeding applications, as described in detail below.

The adapter/cap assembly 300 can be secured to the syringe 10 of FIG. 4. The syringe 10 can be a conventional IV syringe having a fluid reservoir 12 from which liquid is forced out by depressing a plunger 14. Fluid exits the syringe 10 via a tip 16 in communication with the fluid reservoir 12. A distal end of the syringe includes internal threads 18 to receive a device having complementary threads.

As described in detail below, the adapter/cap assembly 300 can be threadably engaged with threads 18 on the syringe to enable the syringe to be safely used for enteral feeding since the adapter 100 (FIG. 1) cannot be nondestructively removed from the syringe 10. Since the adapter 100 cannot be removed, after enteral feeding applications, the syringe cannot be used for IV applications. In an exemplary embodiment, the adapter 100 and/or the cap 200 can be colored orange, at least in part, to indicated enteral feeding equipment.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, including FIGS. 3A-3D, the adapter 100 includes a first end 102 having an opening 104 and a second end 106 with a mating mechanism 108 to engage threads 18 of the syringe 10 in a unidirectional attachment. More particularly, the mating mechanism 108 is configured to engage the threads 18 as the adapter 100 is turned in a first direction until full engagement is achieved. Once attached, however, the mating mechanism 108 of the adapter prevents the adapter 100 from being turned in the opposite direction. That is, the adapter 100 cannot be unthreaded from the syringe 10.

In an exemplary embodiment, the mating mechanism 108 includes one or more barbs 120 extending from an end of a partial thread 122 extending from the body of the adapter 100. The barb 120 and thread 122 engage the threads 18 on the syringe. The barb(s) 120 resist movement in the opposite direction so that the adapter 100 remains secured to the syringe 10.

It is understood that the mating mechanism can be provided in a variety of alternative suitable configurations that provide the desired one-way, permanent engagement of the adapter 100 to the syringe 10.

In an exemplary embodiment, the adapter 100 is engaged with the syringe 10 by means of a cap 200 coupled to the adapter. The adapter 100 includes a cap engagement mechanism 110 to engage the cap. The cap 200 includes a complementary adapter engagement mechanism 202 (FIG. 3C, 3D) to engage the cap engagement mechanism 110 so that rotation of the cap in a first direction 250 causes the adapter mating mechanism 108 to engage the threaded end 12 of the syringe. Rotation of the cap 200 in the opposite direction causes the cap to be dislodged from the adapter 100. With this arrangement, the cap 100 provides a uni-directional ratchet. Wings 205 on the cap 200, can facilitate rotation of the cap and assembly.

In one embodiment, the cap engagement mechanism 110 includes teeth 130 formed about the adapter 100. The teeth 130 transition a diameter for the tapered first end 102 to a diameter for the tapered second end 106, where the first end is smaller in diameter than the second end.

In an exemplary embodiment, the cap 200 includes an interior surface 210 having the adapter engagement mechanism 202 in the form of teeth 212 to engage the teeth 130 of the cap engagement mechanism of the adapter. While the cap 200 is coupled to the adapter 100, rotation of the cap 200 in a first direction 250 causes the adapter 100 to rotate and thereby be threaded onto the syringe. However, rotation of the cap 200 in the opposite direction causes the cap to disengage from the adapter 100 as the teeth of the 130 of the adapter cap engagement mechanism push off the teeth 212 of the cap adapter engagement mechanism 202.

It is understood that the cap and adapter engagement mechanisms can be provided in configurations other than complementary teeth. Other suitable one-way ratchet mechanisms will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the present invention.

In one embodiment, the cap engagement mechanism 110 and the adapter engagement mechanism 202 provide a seal. In one embodiment, the seal is provided by an interference fit between the cap 200 and the adapter 100 proximate an end 102 of the adapter. Once the cap 200 is removed, fluid can pass through the adapter 200 to enable enteral feeding applications for example.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary sequence of steps for providing a syringe adapter in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention. In step 500, a cap/adapter assembly is rotated in a first direction to thread the assembly onto a syringe. The cap includes an adapter engagement mechanism for coupling to a cap engagement mechanism of the adapter for enabling one-directional rotation of the cap/adapter assembly. In step 502, a mating mechanism of the adapter engages the threads of the syringe and the adapter is fully threaded onto the syringe. The mating mechanism resists rotation of the adapter in the opposite direction to prevent the adapter from being unthreaded from the syringe.

In step 504, the cap is rotated in the opposite direction so that the cap is pushed off the adapter. In an exemplary embodiment, this rotation breaks a seal between the cap and adapter to enable fluid to exit the syringe for allowing enteral feeding material to be ingested by a patient. In step 506, the adapted syringe is ready for enteral feeding applications.

In general, the adapter and cap have dimensions sized to meet the needs of a particular application. In the exemplary embodiments contained here, the adapter and cap are shown and described for attachment to a standard IV syringe. FIG. 3C shows certain exemplary dimensions, in inches, for the cap 200, and by extension, the adapter 100. While the drawings may not be to scale, the drawings convey a general dimensional relationship between the components.

Having described exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will now become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating their concepts may also be used. The embodiments contained herein should not be limited to disclosed embodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly, comprising: an adapter having a first end and a second end and a cap engagement mechanism, the first end having a unidirectional mating mechanism to permanently engage a syringe; and a cap having an adapter engagement mechanism engageable with the cap engagement mechanism of the adapter to form a cap/adapter assembly, and to rotate the adapter in a first direction when the cap is rotated in the first direction and to disengage the cap from the adapter when the cap is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a syringe having a fluid dispensing end engaged with the uni-directional mating mechanism of the adapter by rotation of the cap in the first direction, wherein the syringe cannot be non-destructively removed from the adapter.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cap and the adapter form a seal that is broken by rotation of the cap in the second direction.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first end includes a tip configured for enteral feeding.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cap engagement mechanism includes at least one tooth.
 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the adapter engagement mechanism includes at least one tooth to engage the at least one tooth of the cap engagement mechanism.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mating mechanism includes one or more barbs to provide unidirectional rotation of the adapter when engaging the syringe.
 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the one or more barb extends from at least a partial thread.
 8. A system, comprising: an adapter including: a uni-directional mating mechanism to engage threads on a syringe by rotation; and a cap engagement mechanism; and a cap including; a uni-directional adapter engagement mechanism to engage the cap engagement mechanism of the adapter by rotation, wherein rotation of the cap in a first direction rotates the adapter in the first direction so that the mating mechanism of the adapter is threaded onto the syringe so that the adapter cannot be non-destructively removed from the syringe, and rotation of the cap in a second direction opposite the first direction does not rotate the adapter and removes the cap from the adapter to enable use of the syringe. 